Chad Locke

[IslandersHKY]

topcon81 said:

Locke is a very good player and would show it a lot more if his confidence was boosted a bit...
it is hard to get motivated when you are used to playing a scattered shift in a scattered game...
the rocket seem to have this effect on their players ...

IMO Locke has been given lots of opportunity over the past 2 yrs more so than most other players.

I still like Locke and think that he is a good player but at 19 he still hasn't shown that he can be a scoring line forward for the Rocket.

Lachaine with the same opportunities has really stepped up and established himself while I think DesRoches & CoonCome have shown that they can play at this level and contribute with a regular shift.

For this reason I think it would be best to give Locke an opportunity with another team and allow DesRoches & CoonCome the opportunity to fill that 3rd line centre spot.

[bois]

I sort of disagree here..... lachaine was given far more opportunity than Locke was (except when Locke was initially brought here) to show what he could do and now finally 3 1/2 years later he's showing he can contribute the way he was supposed to.. meanwhile Locke gets a spare shift every now and then on a scoring line but he is a center and for the majority of his career he's been forced to play out of position with checkers/grinders/role players and rookies

and I like desroches and think Coon-Come will be fine in the future but right now Locke is far better than both of those guys.. especially CoonCome...

[IslandersHKY]

bois said:

I sort of disagree here..... lachaine was given far more opportunity than Locke was (except when Locke was initially brought here) to show what he could do and now finally 3 1/2 years later he's showing he can contribute the way he was supposed to.. meanwhile Locke gets a spare shift every now and then on a scoring line but he is a center and for the majority of his career he's been forced to play out of position with checkers/grinders/role players and rookies

and I like desroches and think Coon-Come will be fine in the future but right now Locke is far better than both of those guys.. especially CoonCome...

Well I guess I see things differently. Locke was given a couple of chances on the top line last season and even spent more time on the 2nd/3rd line than Lachaine who was often used as a 3rd line/4th line defensive centre by Jean. Even this season Locke was given an opportunity with the top line and a chance to centre Kana/latal. While Lachaine started to show his production playing with McKinley/Gallant. Even now Locke is getting a semiregular shift (similar to what Lachaine had at the start of the season). There is also the aspect of what the coaching staff sees in practice. To me Lachaine and Locke have been given equal opportunity over the past 2 yrs and this season Lachaine has simply stepped up and shown he can produce in a scoring role. Whereas what we are seeing with Locke right now is likely indications fromt the coaching staff that they would like to focuss on the development of DesRoches/CoonCome which will likely mean Locke gets moved.

I'm not saying that Locke isn't better right now. But the question is are the Rocket going for a run or trying to develop for the future.

If they are focussing on developing wouldn't it make more sense for 17 yr old rookies DesRoches/CoonCome to get more ice time rather than have a 19 yr old who won't be back next season?

[bois]

I don't remember Locke centering Latal/Kana at all

I also don't remember Lachaine ever being used as a 4th liner

I also don't think Lachaine ever was scratched... Locke has been plenty of times

Locke did see some time on the top line last year early.. as a winger (out of position) but hasn't been seen near our best players since.. he is usually playing with paynter, desroches, cliche, coon-come etc

I'm not taking anything away from lachaine here.. but to suggest they were given equal opportunities in IMO not accurate at all

[IslandersHKY]

Last season Locke started out as a winger on the top line. He was also given another chance there later in the season before the trade period.

As well after the trade period for a large part of the season just before the playoffs we had a 3rd line of Haddad-Doyle-Locke and Lachaine was centreing the 4th line. In the playoffs the Rocket moved Doyle played wing with Laliberte & Doucet and Lachaine moved into his spot as our 3rd line centre with Locke.

This season in early shortly after CoonCome came up Locke centred Kana-Latal for a few games over 2 weeks or so and he only had like 1 pt and was a minus. Meanwhile Lachaine started to really pick things up on the third line and ended up moving up while Locke was moved down.

But you are right Lachaine hasn't been a healthy scratch this season although Locke has only been a couple of games over the past 2 weeks while Chouinard assess if DesRoches/ CoonCome are ready for added ice time.

Anyway no sense beating this to death. Although one point I completely agree with you and have argued for 2 yrs now is that Locke is best suited as a centre and never looked right with Jean's continuous attempts on the wing.

Maybe had he been centreing Walker-Haddad/Doyle last season he would have looked a lot better than trying to play wing.

Either way, with all due respect to Locke, in the interest of developing for the future I think it is in the Rocket's best interest to move Locke and focus on developing DesRoches/CoonCome.

[bois]

CoonCome centred Latal-Kana when he came up.. and he was not ready for that role

I don't honestly remember Locke centring a scoring line since the end of his first half year here (where he looked very much like a future 2nd line C .. maybe even a first liner)... he was always a scorer and always a center and the Rocket in their infinite wisdom decided to make him a checking winger

[wingman]

I agree with Score, Locke hasn't shown consistency when he did play well. Since he joined the team in 05/06 he has shown glimpses of good play and promise but that's about it.

When he first came here, it looked like he had the potential to be a top 6 forward for the Rocket but since then we only have seen flashes of that player who was at his best for the playoffs. But after his first playoff in '06, he came to training camp for the 06/07 season where it looked like he was lucky to even make the team. He had another good playoff last season and some thought he would be a top 6 forward this season, but once again he had a camp where he didn't stick out at all.

That's not because of the way the coach uses him because it's up to the player to show up to camp prepared for the season. It seems like Locke gets himself behind the eight ball for the start of the season during camp because most other players are prepared and he isn't, and in that regard I don't think he doesn't do himself any favors. As far as the rest of the season, perhaps he doesn't bring enough to practice to show the coach he is ready for a bigger role. That is just a guess and suggestion on my part, but it wouldn't be a surprise with the way his past camps have been.

[observer]

Nothing against Locke but he must be able to read the writing on the wall. 19 year old playing on a 4th line that does not see alot of ice time. 3 game point streak and then a healthy scratch. A trade for Locke would be a good thing for him as the longer he stays here the more it will hurt what ever chance he has of having a hockey career.

[voiceofytown]

i wonder if Locke would have an interest in joining Yarmouth this season?? If he is not in the Rockets plans and they can't find him a solid team to play on. We are currently 23-3 and are a impact player or 2 from making a serious run. You can guarentee our GM Mark Cole will be calling and asking on the possible availability of Locke.

[reggiedunlop7]

Is that the same Yarmouth that has been making a serious run for years now and nothing to show for it.
No league titles and blew the FPC when they hosted. Too much high-priced talent and no return for it.
When the Mariners win the league this year feel free to brag, but I see Pictou or Truro coming out that division this year.

[voiceofytown]

reggiedunlop7 said:

Is that the same Yarmouth that has been making a serious run for years now and nothing to show for it.
No league titles and blew the FPC when they hosted. Too much high-priced talent and no return for it.
When the Mariners win the league this year feel free to brag, but I see Pictou or Truro coming out that division this year.

when was out last serious run?? We came 1 goal away at the FPC and lost to a better Hawksberry team. You can add we got outcoached as well cause thats the truth. Here is a question?? over the last 3 years how many of the MJAHL teams actually won a game at the FPC?? Woodstock went 0-3 and we heard there hype all that year... and Truro has 1 win in there last 2 FPC apperances. Lets not forget it was pretty much against Pembrokes "Junior B team"

[voiceofytown]

reggiedunlop7 said:

Is that the same Yarmouth that has been making a serious run for years now and nothing to show for it.
No league titles and blew the FPC when they hosted. Too much high-priced talent and no return for it.
When the Mariners win the league this year feel free to brag, but I see Pictou or Truro coming out that division this year.

FPC is not an easy tournament to win... and anyone who does think Pictou will win it is on drugs. There first step might be to play for there coach

[voiceofytown]

reggiedunlop7 said:

Is that the same Yarmouth that has been making a serious run for years now and nothing to show for it.
No league titles and blew the FPC when they hosted. Too much high-priced talent and no return for it.
When the Mariners win the league this year feel free to brag, but I see Pictou or Truro coming out that division this year.

I didn't come down on here to bash any teams or anything but I figured it was an option for the kid?? He more then likely won't play Major Junior next year so why not move down to Tier 2. Since the Rocket more then likely will be selling some of there assets at the deadline hoping for a better season nextyear.

[reggiedunlop7]

Hmmm...let's see...Fred Page Cup title...yep Abbies have 1 of those. MJAHL titles...2 so far.
Yarmouth..zero, zip, nada

Saw the Mariners tonight and have to say I see another spring without hardware coming to the arse end of NS. Far too much cockiness on that squad...lot of yappers and Kasper? Never won anything as a Bruin and you have to ask why a guy who coached in the NHL and AHL is in Junior A....lot of levels of hockey between here and there.

Never said Pictou was winning the FPC...just that they'll come out of the Bent Division.

You said you wanted Locke to come to Yarmouth and all I did was show why not to go.

Woodstock...I believe they at least have a league championship.

[topcon81]

atta boy lockey ....got the teddy bear goal ...way to go